the role of local governments and citizens

Climate protection activities at the local level play an important role towards responding effectively to global climate change. The research at hand deals with the subjectively nominated success factors and barriers relevant to the implementation of climate protection measures in local municipalities. Determinants for the transition towards energy sustainable communities (Schweizer- Ries, 2008) are the subject-matter of a longer research tradition (Schweizer-Ries, 2009). In order to work out recommendations for a German federal policy instrument designed to support municipalities towards climate protection, we chose to concentrate on municipalities having applied for the above mentioned funding. Some of these municipalities also plan to realise a process towards “zero-emission” as a long-term project. With qualitative interviews, we assessed in a first research step, how local stakeholders perceive the climate protection measures inside their municipalities, how they were successfully implemented, where social barriers appeared and how they could be minimised. Thus, we were able to collect subjective determinants of success or failure for zeroemission processes. We also examine the role of the citizens, and make the case for increased public participation. The main insights of these first results are that within the administration of local municipalities, cross-sectional interaction and communication are crucial, along with the need to engage a socially skilled permanent employee to manage the implementation of measures and activate external stakeholders. Involving citizens is pivotal in shaping a zero-emission community identity and reality. The research is designed to shed some light on the role the above mentioned financial support programme and therefore serves as policy counselling. The policy instrument seems to be able to promote most factors of success within local authorities, only minor adaptations are necessary

Active recovery of the finger flexors enhances intermittent handgrip performance in rock climbers

This study aimed to (1) evaluate the effect of hand shaking during recovery phases of intermittent testing on the time–force characteristics of performance and muscle oxygenation, and (2) assess inter-individual variability in the time to achieve the target force during intermittent testing in rock climbers. Twenty-two participants undertook three finger flexor endurance tests at 60% of their maximal voluntary contraction until failure. Performances of a sustained contraction and two intermittent contractions, each with different recovery strategies, were analysed by time–force parameters and near-infrared spectroscopy. Recovery with shaking of the forearm beside the body led to a significantly greater intermittent test time (↑ 22%, P < .05), force–time integral (↑ 28%, P < .05) and faster muscle re-oxygenation (↑ 32%, P < .05), when compared to the hand over hold condition. Further, the ratio of intermittent to continuous test time distinguished specific aerobic muscular adaptations among sport climbers (2.02), boulderers (1.74) and lower grade climbers (1.25). Lower grade climbers and boulderers produced shorter duration contractions due to the slower development of target force during the intermittent test, indicating worse kinaesthetic differentiation. Both the type of recovery and climbing discipline determined muscle re-oxygenation and intermittent performance in rock climbers

Zeit für sich selbst : Muße, Langeweile und die Nutzung digitaler Medien im Alltag ; Zwei Forschungsberichte

Die erste Studie ("Langweilen wir uns noch? Nutzung von digitalen Medien zur unbewussten Prävention von Langeweile") beschäftigt sich mit der Nutzung digitaler Medien als Prävention von Langeweile. Dabei wird hinterfragt, ob die Mediennutzung die Langeweile tatsächlich verhindern kann oder ob dieser Erfolg ausbleibt. Zunächst wird ermittelt, auf welche Weise mit Langeweile umgegangen wird. Darauf aufbauend werden Motive herausgearbeitet, die hinter der digitalen Mediennutzung stehen. Aus dieser Kombination von Mediennutzung und Langeweile leitet sich die Frage nach der bewussten oder unbewussten präemptiven Nutzung von Medien zur Vermeidung von Langweile ab. Zur Beantwortung der Forschungsfragen dient eine qualitativ durchgeführte Gruppendiskussion. - Die zweite Studie ("Langeweile oder Muße: Gründe der Selbstdarstellung in den sozialen Medien") thematisiert potentielle Gründe der Selbstdarstellung in den sozialen Medien vor dem Hintergrund der modernen digitalen Gesellschaft. Dabei werden vorranging die Konstrukte der Muße und der Langeweile sowie deren Zusammenhänge als Gründe für das Posting selbstdarstellerischer Inhalte in Social Media theoretisch betrachtet und methodisch analysiert. Im Rahmen der Forschungsarbeit wird dabei Instagram als beispielhaftes Medium zum Gegenstandsbereich der Untersuchung gewählt. Zur Beantwortung der Forschungsfrage wird die Methode der narrativen Medienforschung angewandt. Basierend auf den Erkenntnissen von fünf qualitativ und narrativ durchgeführten Tiefeninterviews erfolgt mittels einer Inhaltsanalyse eine deduktive sowie induktive Kategorienbildung, die potentielle Gründe der Selbstdarstellung aufzeigt

Process sequence of soil aggregate formation disentangled through multi-isotope labelling

Microaggregates (250 µm) that resisted 60 J mL−1 ultrasonic dispersion. Afterwards, we assessed the C, N, Fe, and Si stable isotope composition in each size fraction. After four weeks we found a rapid build-up of stable macroaggregates comprising almost 50 % of soil mass in the treatment with plants and respective soil rooting, but only 5 % when plants were absent. The formation of these stable macroaggregates proceeded with time. Soil organic carbon (SOC) contents were elevated by 15 % in the large macroaggregates induced by plant growth. However, the recovery of EPS-derived 13C was below 20 % after 4 weeks, indicating rapid turnover in treatments both with and without plants. The remaining EPS-derived C was mainly found in macroaggregates when plants were present and in the occluded small microaggregates (<20 µm) when plants were absent. The excess of bacterial 15N closely followed the pattern of EPS-derived 13C (R2 = 0.72). In contrast to the organic gluing agents, the goethite-57Fe and montmorillonite-29Si were relatively equally distributed across all size fractions. Overall, microaggregates were formed within weeks. Roots enforced this process by stabilizing microaggregates within stable macroaggregates. As time proceeded the labelled organic components decomposed, while the labelled secondary oxides and clay minerals increasingly contributed to aggregate stabilization and turnover at the scale of months and beyond. Consequently, the well-known hierarchical organization of aggregation follows a clear chronological sequence of stabilization and turnover processes

Modernizing persistence–bioaccumulation–toxicity (PBT) assessment with high throughput animal-free methods

The assessment of persistence (P), bioaccumulation (B), and toxicity (T) of a chemical is a crucial first step at ensuring chemical safety and is a cornerstone of the European Union’s chemicals regulation REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemicals). Existing methods for PBT assessment are overly complex and cumbersome, have produced incorrect conclusions, and rely heavily on animal-intensive testing. We explore how new-approach methodologies (NAMs) can overcome the limitations of current PBT assessment. We propose two innovative hazard indicators, termed cumulative toxicity equivalents (CTE) and persistent toxicity equivalents (PTE). Together they are intended to replace existing PBT indicators and can also accommodate the emerging concept of PMT (where M stands for mobility). The proposed “toxicity equivalents” can be measured with high throughput in vitro bioassays. CTE refers to the toxic effects measured directly in any given sample, including single chemicals, substitution products, or mixtures. PTE is the equivalent measure of cumulative toxicity equivalents measured after simulated environmental degradation of the sample. With an appropriate panel of animal-free or alternative in vitro bioassays, CTE and PTE comprise key environmental and human health hazard indicators. CTE and PTE do not require analytical identification of transformation products and mixture components but instead prompt two key questions: is the chemical or mixture toxic, and is this toxicity persistent or can it be attenuated by environmental degradation? Taken together, the proposed hazard indicators CTE and PTE have the potential to integrate P, B/M and T assessment into one high-throughput experimental workflow that sidesteps the need for analytical measurements and will support the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability of the European Union.ISSN:0340-5761ISSN:1432-073

Architecture of soil microaggregates: Advanced methodologies to explore properties and functions

The functions of soils are intimately linked to their three-dimensional pore space and the associated biogeochemical interfaces, mirrored in the complex structure that developed during pedogenesis. Under stress overload, soil disintegrates into smaller compound structures, conventionally named aggregates. Microaggregates (<250 µm) are recognized as the most stable soil structural units. They are built of mineral, organic, and biotic materials, provide habitats for a vast diversity of microorganisms, and are closely involved in the cycling of matter and energy. However, exploring the architecture of soil microaggregates and their linkage to soil functions remains a challenging but demanding scientific endeavor. With the advent of complementary spectromicroscopic and tomographic techniques, we can now assess and visualize the size, composition, and porosity of microaggregates and the spatial arrangement of their interior building units. Their combinations with advanced experimental pedology, multi-isotope labeling experiments, and computational approaches pave the way to investigate microaggregate turnover and stability, explore their role in element cycling, and unravel the intricate linkage between structure and function. However, spectromicroscopic techniques operate at different scales and resolutions, and have specific requirements for sample preparation and microaggregate isolation; hence, special attention must be paid to both the separation of microaggregates in a reproducible manner and the synopsis of the geography of information that originates from the diverse complementary instrumental techniques. The latter calls for further development of strategies for synlocation and synscaling beyond the present state of correlative analysis. Here, we present examples of recent scientific progress and review both options and challenges of the joint application of cutting-edge techniques to achieve a sophisticated picture of the properties and functions of soil microaggregates

ARSB IS REQUIRED FOR BONE REMODELING

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The histone methyltransferase Setd8 acts in concert with c-Myc and is required to maintain skin

Keratinocyte-specific ablation of the histone H4K20 methyltransferase Setd8 reveals its essential role in embryonic and postnatal skin homeostasis. Molecularly, the c-myc target gene Setd8 regulates proliferation/differentiation by controlling p63 function